Any way to virtualize Win 7 from a preinstalled PC?

[Kurtosis]

Hello,

I just bought an HP laptop with Win 7 preinstalled, and I want to backup Win 7, wipe the hdd, install Linux, then install the backed up Win 7 image as a VB guest.

It appears from several threads here that it is not possible to do this using the system recovery discs created by the HP Recovery Media Creator, nor using the Windows Recovery Disc created with recdisc.exe. Is it possible using some other method, perhaps by cloning the drive with Clonezilla?

If not, what's the best option for getting a copy of Win 7 (64bit, at least Home Premium or better) for a VB installation on linux? Is the full, non-OEM, Win 7 installation DVD the only option?

Thanks!

[mpack]

Clone the drive using Disk2VHD. Optionally convert VHD to VDI using CloneVDI, for better compatibility with VBox.

Be aware that that is only step 1. The virtual hardware will be radically different to the original installation, and Win7 may or may not adapt easily. I vaguely recall doing a Win7 P2V (physical to virtual migration) in the past, and don't remember any problems (*) - except of course for the reactivation message popping up. In my case I was just playing with a CloneVDI feature (a rather clumsy feature, so you should stick with Disk2VHD), hence I didn't care about activation.

(*) I have a feeling that Win7 is more tolerant of migration problems than XP is. I believe system disk imaging is now accepted by MS as a legit tool for IT people to use. With XP you have to take a couple of precautions to ensure easy migration (run MergeIDE, delete drivers\intelppm.sys), but AFAIK this isn't needed with Win7.

[Sasquatch]

License wise, you can't. Pre-installed versions are bound to the hardware they are installed on. A VM is not the same hardware, thus not licensed and you're not allowed to use it there. Some installations have the activation in the hardware, and if they are put in a VM, they will never be able to activate. The license key on the machine doesn't work either in some cases. And the cheap set of hardware don't get install media to do a clean install either.

[Kurtosis]

Thanks for info mpack and sasquactch. I understand the license issues, annoying as they are. Going to experiment, either with VMWare Covnerter or mpack's recommendations. Nothing to lose.

[tatose]

Maybe for the time being you might want to check out alternative VM solutions which include a Disk2Img functionality.

Used VMware to virtualise many legacy "but critical" W98/W2K systems a while back, works in a pinch, only thing I have to do is to install the guest additions.

[Lauscher]

Some installations have the activation in the hardware, and if they are put in a VM, they will never be able to activate.

There is a new solution for oem versions of windows found in this forum: viewtopic.php?f=2&t=43678